Photos and Story by Tyler Sipe
The local thrift store industry typically says Christmas comes in October, when sales are buoyed by Halloween.
But area thrift stores have seen a mixed bag of tricks and treats as a result of the nation’s economic woes.
Two Fremont stores, locally owned Jack’s Army Navy Surplus and the national organization Society of St. Vincent De Paul, both said sales have declined compared to 2007.

Story by Tyler Sipe
California’s unemployment numbers continue to show teenagers are among the hardest hit in the flailing economy.
The state’s Employment Development Department reported in August that teenage unemployment rate — among 16 to 19 year olds — was 21.9 percent, an increase of more than 4 percent from the same time last year.
Fremont resident Phuong Nguyen, 18, said she has been actively looking for a job since she graduated high school in June. She said she no longer wants to depend on her parents, and needs extra income …

By Guo Shipeng
A steady stream of Chinese residents cast their votes in several polling stations in Oakland’s Chinatown throughout Tuesday, many supporting Obama in line with the community’s long-time leaning toward the Democrats.
But a considerable amount of Chinatown voters cited traditional Chinese family values and voted for Prop 8 that would ban same-sex marriages, disappointing a group of campaigners against the proposition who stayed outside a polling place for a whole day to try to win over people.